Gary Williams

Biography

Gary is the CEO of Muurrbay, a Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man who grew up in Nambucca Heads in his mother’s country. He realised the importance of maintaining cultural knowledge and spent as much time as he could learning from Elders. He went to the first Gumbaynggirr classes at Muurrbay and has worked on Gumbaynggirr language reclamation for over twenty years. Gary managed Koori Broadcasters in Nambucca Heads and has presented a ground-breaking language program on ABC radio with Fi Poole. Gary was a key member of the team whose in-depth research led to the publishing of the Gumbaynggirr Dictionary-Grammar and the Collected Stories.

When Muurrbay expanded into a Regional Language Centre in 2004, Gary played a central role as regional language researcher, supporting the revival of seven languages, including Bundjalung, his father’s language. Gary’s language and cultural knowledge and his deep understanding of linguistics underpins Muurrbay’s support of NSW coastal languages.

Gary has long been an advocate for Indigenous rights, and openly acknowledges that it’s confronting to stand up against social conventions. He was an integral part of the 1965 Freedom Ride which was aimed at shining a light on discriminatory local laws around NSW, with legendary Indigenous rights campaigner, Charles Perkins. At that time, they were the only two Aboriginal students at the University of Sydney.

Gary was one the staunch advocates who established the first Aboriginal Legal Service in Australia in Redfern, NSW in 1970. This was the very first free legal assistance service on the continent.  In 1971, many of the same advocates, including Gary Williams, were responsible for the establishment of the first Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern.

For over 60 years, Gary Williams has dedicated his life to rallying against racial discrimination and to the revitalisation of Aboriginal languages and culture.

More information can be found here:

• Aboriginal Legal Service history 
• Legends of Land Rights